Put Some Whisky In It

So here it is: my final selection of chocolate for goal 50!
It's hard to believe that I've tried out 50 chocolate bars now! It seems that not long ago, I was watching Heston Blumenthal at a chocolatier's on TV and thinking, 'Chocolates? Now there's an idea'
Whilst some have been the same flavour, different brands have created that in different ways, or put a new spin on how the flavours are combined.

Anyway, here are the final three chocolate bars!

Music from Myanmar and More

 Since a new year has begun, it seems like the best time to start on a particular goal:

029. Listen to 2 new musical acts every week for 1 year

(When I say 'new', I mean 'new to me').

Hopefully I'll manage to stick with this goal throughout the year--it's somewhat more challenging than my reading goal, because I have to remember it on a weekly, not monthly, basis!

The first week of the year is almost over, so here are the acts I've listened to:

Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein 
Pop music from Myanmar!
This musician appeared on a BBC travel program about Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). Intrigued, I got online to find out more (and listen to a full song)
I really like the strength and emotion in her voice, so despite being unable to understand the lyrics, I can still enjoy her songs!
A lot of her costumes are also visually stunning--the program she appeared on called her 'Myanmar's answer to Lady Gaga'.
Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein Official Site



FEMM
Japanese Electropop
This duo's video 'PoW!' was on YouTube's suggested videos, so I checked it out. It has a really upbeat, fun sound, which took me a while to get used to. When I clicked on the first video, I didn't know what to expect!
Despite being from Japan, this act sings in English. The vocals in a lot of their songs are given a synthetic, electronic sound, which really enhances the effect of their music.
Their costumes are somewhat quirky--lots vinyl/latex, sometimes in familiar or traditional styles (the 'Dead Wrong' video features the duo in vinyl kimono).
FEMM, by the way, stands for Far East Mention Mannequins :)
FEMM Official Site


I'm always looking for new music, so if you have any suggestions - any genre, any language, so long as I can find somewhere to listen online! - please let me know!

Chocolate Orange (But Not As You Know It)

I'm coming closer to my goal of trying 50 new chocolates, and only recently have I really hit on the idea of trying them in themed selections!

This group of bars are all flavoured with orange, and in some cases go that little bit further to provide a unique taste.

Top Goals, Completed Goals & Recap of 2015

Now that 2016 is here, it's time to look back at 2015, and figure out which goals are at the top of my list for this year!

Here's a recap of how 2015 was for me.

(If you want to skip this part, I've listed the goals I completed beneath the recap).

In January, I went out with my sisters and tried iceskating for the first time, at a very interesting location. (goal #88)

I also finished posting my 52 paintings for goal #55, though I didn't make the master post until February, which was overall a quiet month for Doing A Thing.

However, I did restart my Etsy store, Little Deer Daydreams.

When March rolled around, I decided 'no more books!', because I had tonnes to read and a bad habit for buying even more.

(I didn't stick to this rule, and my book pile grew even higher...)

March was the month when I spotted a squirrel on a motorbike, went on a little trip, and froze my butt off exploring Whitby with a friend. (goals #36, 39, 48)

April was another quiet month, in which I mostly did some reading (goal #50) and made plans for the next month.

Brighton Fringe was the main event in May, when I completely exceeded goal #79 by seeing not one, but five plays, including an open air performance held in the Pavilion Gardens, a one-man show and an adaptation from a novel.

I also went to some fascinating art exhibitions (goal #10) with a neighbour.

Come June, I was ready to lazy around and do nothing!

But I was still productive: I completed an online course (goal #69) and followed the Brighton Sculpture Trail (goal #40)...which I didn't blog about until July. Whoops!

I also completed goal #50: read 3 books per month for a year. Which makes up for my blogging so slowly, I think ;)

All in all, that makes July a really quiet month regarding goals, but I did go to a couple of new cafes (goal #36) and try some great food (including the most amazing mushroom soup ever).

I also went to an anime convention at the end of July/beginning of August. Whilst I didn't blog about the event as a whole, I did write about the musical performances by Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer and Professor Elemental (goal #59) ...which in my usual long-winded blogging style, was posted in September!

 

August was also the month that I climbed the O2 (goal #84--my #1 priority for 2015!) with a friend, and because that wasn't enough excitement for one day, we also headed to the Hayward Gallery to check out Carsten Höller's immersive exhibition, Decision (goal #10)

In September I went to a concert in the church, performed by neo-classical/folk rock band The Moulettes. With this event, I completed goal #59: Go to 5 music events.

October turned out to be another quiet month, but I did make a skirt from a pattern (goal #89) and came up with some new goals.

November felt like a busy month, though mostly because a lot happened in the space of a few days (not all of which got blogged about!)

Early in the month I went to see Priscilla: Queen of the Desert with a couple of friends. Towards the end of the month, a friend and I went to Hyper Japan Christmas Market in London, where I tried some Japanese street food (goal #08, goal #36), tried some other food that I've never tried before (goal #44) and experienced chindonya (goal #42).

By the time December rolled around, I wasn't prepared to do anything other than Christmas-related things. But my parents and I did go to see comedian Bill Bailey perform his show Limboland at the Brighton Centre.

No blog post from this because I didn't take any pictures, but needless to say he was hilarious.

...and December was the month where I more or less forgot this blog existed. Sorry!

Still, goals-wise, 2015 was a productive year.

I completed the following goals:

008. Eat Japanese food

040. Follow the Brighton Sculpture Trail

042. Check out a different type of performance art

050. Read 3 books per month for 1 year

055. Create 52 paintings in 1 year

059. Go to 5 music events

069. Complete an online course

079. Go to see a play

084. Climb the O2

088. Go ice skating

Bolded goals were on my priority list for 2015.

Although this means I only did 1/5 of the goals I really wanted to complete, I still completed 10 goals this year--and worked on several more.

So now we're in 2016, here are the 10 goals I want to achieve this year:

010. Visit 30 museums/art galleries/exhibitions

This is probably going to take some time...

012. Complete 3 photography projects

I bought a nice DSLR in November. Time to lean how to use it and take some awesome photos!

013. Go swimming

Wanted to complete this last year, but never did.

018. Go llama trekking

Still haven't done this, but I really want to.

019. Abseil down something

Being suspended from a height by a couple of bits of rope isn't an idea I take joy in, but I want to do this to prove to myself that I can do it.

029. Listen to 2 new musical acts every week for 1 year

Suggestions welcome!

038. Go on the Brighton Sewer Tour

It's going to be stinky, but interesting

067. Sell unwanted things at a car boot fair

Still have too much stuff.

091. Make something with power tools

I need to stop being unnerved by them! Plus being able to use power tools and make things is useful.

092. Learn a new skill

I don't know what this will be yet, but I'm sure I'll come up with something.

Some of these goals come from last year's priority list. I'm determined to do this stuff (I just need the money, energy and transport capability!)

More Weirdass KitKats

 

Hyper Japan was only a few days ago, and I've already eaten all of the snack food I bought there... Oh dear!

On the plus side, that includes the tiny KitKats, so I can make another chocolate post!

I seriously think Japan wins for picking the most random flavours for its chocolate...

I Like My Music With Strong Visuals

Along with shopping and interesting food, Hyper Japan Christmas Market also had entertainment to offer! There was so much happening at the event that it was impossible to see everything, but we did manage to cram in a few performances, including two rock acts and a chindonya!

Octopus Balls and Curry Flavoured Fizz

Following on from yesterday's post, this one is dedicated to the food I bought at Hyper Japan Christmas Market on Saturday! Amongst other things, I tried a curry-flavoured soft drink, warm sake, and battered octopus balls...

Hyper Japan Christmas Market

On Saturday, my friend Sara and I headed off for fun and food at Hyper Japan Christmas Market at the Tobacco Dock, London.

The event involved more stalls/pop-up shops than you can shake a stick at, all selling goods relating to Japanese culture.

Queen of the Desert

At the beginning of the month, I went to a musical!
This was the first time I'd been to a musical, and I loved every moment of it.

The show in question was Prisculla: Queen of the Desert and starred Duncan James as Tick/Mitzi. (Performances at some other venues on this tour have Jason Donovan in the role.)

His popularity was somewhat evident by the number of delighted screams that erupted from the audience when he appeared on stage--which only grew louder when he stripped down to his underwear to change on stage! (Well, he does have a fantastic physique!)

The show was brilliantly acted, with some amazing vocal talent and seriously awesome costumes.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert is also a film, which I've watched multiple times, so it was interesting to see how close the musical was to the film.

The storyline is about two drag queens and a transgender woman (formerly a well-known drag performer) who escape the city in an old bus, and head across the Australian desert towards Alice, in order to perform a show. But a wrong turning and a frankly wrecked bus lead to the trio being stranded, and they swiftly end up on a journey far from what was expected.

My friends and I saw this show at the Theatre Royal in Brighton, which is a really gorgeous theatre!
I spent most of the performance either grinning in delight or staring, and left the theatre with CeCe Peniston's Finally stuck in my head, and mumbling, 'The costumes. The costumes!'

100% would see again!

Tea is a Herb!

So I've been eating more chocolate for goal #64 (any excuse, really): to try 50 chocolates that are new to me.
This time around, I'm deeming tea a herb, and proclaiming this post all about herby chocolate.
Well...tea is green...like herbs...right...?
The chocolates I've tried this time include green tea, basil and real rosemary...